Frequently Asked Questions by McNichols Campus Guests

The Commencement Committee requests your cooperation in making Commencement a memorable event for both you and your graduate. A past complaint from the graduates and their guests was the behavior of some of the guests attending the Ceremony. The Committee asks that all participants be considerate for the solemnity of the Commencement and by not trying to get your graduate’s attention during the Ceremony. Below is information that we hope you find helpful in planning for and attending the Commencement Events.

A: The actual Commencement Ceremony takes about 2 hours, 1 hour for speeches and conferring of degrees and 1 hour for degree presentation. It is not an event that most young children find interesting. With deference for the Ceremony, you are expected to stay in place for the entire event. Families with young children may find viewing the ceremony in the Fitness Center an option.

﻿Q: What if my candidate has some existing commencement concerns?

A: Commencement Day is not the time to address pre-existing concerns. These matters should be immediately brought to the attention of your candidate’s college/school office or academic advisor.

﻿Q: How many tickets are available?

A: In the last few years, Calihan Hall has not been filled to capacity so, again this year, no tickets will be distributed and candidates are asked to be judicious in the number of invitations they extend. We ask that no more than 10 guests be invited. Remember that seating is on a first come, first served basis and once Calihan Hall is at capacity, no more guests will be admitted. Overflow seating is in the Student Fitness Center with a live feed for viewing.

﻿Q: Where do I park?

A: Parking is limited. Allow extra time to park and, if possible, car pool. For parking locations, see the map provided to your candidate or visit the Commencement website. Disabled parking, in front of Calihan Hall or in Lot E, is restricted to those with valid handicapped stickers or license plate. Parking is also on a first come, first served basis.

﻿Q: When and where are the Commencement Events?

A: The 2015 Commencement takes place on Saturday, May 9 on the McNichols Campus. See map that will be mailed to your candidate in April or visit the Commencement website.

Commencement Events

Time

Location

Baccalaureate Line-up

9:40 a.m.

Gesu Church

Baccalaureate Mass

10:00

Gesu Church

Continental Breakfast

11:00 - 11:45

Fitness Center

Candidate Line-up

12:00 noon

Designated Assembly Areas given to candidates

Procession begins

12:45 p.m.

Fisher Fountain

Commencement

1:30

Calihan Hall

﻿Baccalaureate Mass

This mass is an integral part of the Commencement activities and candidates and guests of all faiths are invited to join this religious service thanking God for His blessings and praying for our future. Mass begins at 10:00 a.m. in Gesu Church, located one block north of the McNichols Campus on Santa Maria between Quincy and Oak Drive.

﻿Complimentary Continental Breakfast

Breakfast will be served from 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. in the Fitness Center for candidates and their guests. NO tickets are required.

﻿Commencement

Calihan Hall is not an air-conditioned facility.

﻿Procession

At noon, candidates are to be in their designated procession assembly areas. Over 30 minutes are needed to line up the candidates and provide event instructions. At 12:40 p.m., the college/schools processions will move to the Fisher Fountain area north of the Student Center and at 12:45 p.m., to Calihan Hall. It is traditional for a Bagpiper to lead the procession. Rain or shine, the procession will process. Each college/ school will be led by its Banner Bearer who is followed by the Faculty, Graduate and Undergraduate Candidates. The procession arrives at Calihan Hall’s northwest doors at approximately 12:50 p.m.

﻿Q: Will the Commencement Ceremony be televised?

A: Family and friends unable to attend the Commencement Ceremony may watch online. For information, see the Watch Online page.

﻿Q: How can I get a good seat?

A: Calihan Hall doors open at 11:00 a.m. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Please do not arrive at Calihan Hall before 11:00 a.m.

﻿Q: Is there special seating for a physically disabled guest?

A:There is limited Calihan Hall main floor seating for disabled guests accompanied by one able bodied companion. The chance of sitting in the disabled section shortly before the procession begins is unlikely. Balcony seating can be accessed only by steep steps. An alternative viewing site, Fitness Center, will be opened to accommodate those disabled guests who cannot be seated in Calihan Hall. The Fitness Center is equipped to receive the Live Link to the ceremony. It provides approx. 200 seats with air-conditioning and plenty of space for wheelchairs and accessible restrooms. The Fitness Center is located east of the Engineering Building and north of the residence halls. The most convenient parking areas to the Fitness Center are Lot E (with handicapped sticker) and the Student/Visitor Lot east of the residence hall complex.

﻿Q: Does Calihan Hall have accessible restrooms?

A: Restrooms are located around the main floor hallways. Accessible restrooms are located in the north corridor near the main entrance of the building.

﻿Q: Can the Ceremony be videotaped/photographed?

A: Videotaping/photographing is permitted by guests from the balcony only. A professional photo- grapher will take three shots of your graduate on the floor during the degree presentation. Guests, other than those seated in the physically disabled section, are not permitted on the main floor.

﻿Q: What happens if it rains?

A: Candidates are to report to their assembly areas regardless of the weather. If rain is predicted, they are instructed to bring an umbrella. If the Rain Plan is put into effect, i.e., colleges/schools will come directly to the northwest doors of Calihan Hall from their assembly areas rather than organizing a formal procession at the Fisher Fountain. Implementing the rain plan will not affect the Procession within Calihan Hall.

A: Since Commencement is a formal academic ceremony, guests are asked to please show proper respect for both the ceremony and the other guests by:

Not interfering with the Procession.

Turning off all beepers, pagers and cell phones.

Remaining quiet and dignified during the ceremony.

Refrainingfromshoutinggraduatenames from the balcony during the Ceremony. This type of behavior is disrespectful and disruptive. Guests who choose not to respect the rights of others will be asked to be quiet and then, if the behavior continues, asked to leave.

Conferring of Degrees - This is the most important and solemn part of the Ceremony. Although quiet should be maintained while the President confers the degrees, expressions of joy are appropriate after the conferring of degrees.

Presentation of Degrees - A joyous expression is also appropriate when your graduate’s name is read. The celebrations should be very brief so that the next graduate’s name can be heard.

﻿Q: Where will my graduate be sitting?

A: A floor-seating diagram will be available for viewing at the northeast lobby entrance when you enter Calihan Hall. The diagram is also available on the website a couple days before the ceremony. This will give the general location of where your graduate’s college/school will be seated. The candidates are seated alphabetically within their degree section.

﻿Q: What are the decorations that some graduates wear?

A: Graduates’ gowns should not contain adornments such as jewelry, flowers, signs, emblems, etc. Gown decoration is strictlylimitedto university, college and school honor regalia such as cord, sashes, stoles, pins and medallions. Your graduate may obtain a listing of the approved items from their college/school office which normally involves membership or nomination into an academic honor society. Candidates with caps that are decorated or contain messages are unacceptable. ffraternity and sorority apparel is not appropriate. Faculty and University Marshals will ask graduates to remove any unauthorized items being worn. Candidates will not be permitted to march in the procession with an unapproved items.

﻿Q: What do the hood and tassel colors signify?

A: The colors represent the academic degree area. The colors are:

Bachelor Degree Majors

Tassel Color

Accounting

Golden Yellow

Addiction Studies

Golden Yellow

Architectural Engineering

Orange

Architecture

Blue-Violet

Biochemistry

Golden Yellow

Biology

Golden Yellow (BS) White (BA)

Business Administration

Drab

Chemistry

Golden Yellow (BS) White (BA)

Civil Engineering

Orange

Communication Studies

White

Computer Science

Golden Yellow

Criminal Justice

Golden Yellow

Developmental Psychology

White

Digital Media Studies

White

Economics

White

Electrical Engineering

Orange

Elementary Education

Light Blue

Engineering

Orange

English

White

Financial Economics

White

Health Information Management

Golden Yellow

Health Services

Golden Yellow

Health Services Administration

Golden Yellow

History

White

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

White

Legal Administration

White

Liberal Studies

White

Mathematics

Golden Yellow (BS)
White (BA)

Mechanical Engineering

Orange

Nursing

Apricot

Philosophy

White

Political Science

White

Psychology

White

Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering

Orange

Religious Studies

White

Social Studies Education

Light Blue

Social Work

Citron

Sociology

White

Software Engineering

Golden Yellow

Software Production and Management

Golden Yellow

Special Education - Emotionally Impair/Beh Dis

Light Blue

Special Education - Learning Disabled

Light Blue

Theater

White

Master Degree Majors

Tassel and Hood Color

Addiction Counseling

White

Architecture

Blue-Violet

Business Administration

Drab

Chemistry

Golden Yellow

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Orange

Clinical Nurse Leader

Apricot

Clinical Psychology

White

Community Counseling

White

Community Development

White

Computer Science

Golden Yellow

Criminal Justice

White

Curriculum and Instruction

Light Blue

Economics

Copper

Educational Administration

Light Blue

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Orange

Engineering Management

Orange

Family Nurse Practitioner

Apricot

Financial Economics

Copper

Health Services Administration

Golden Yellow

Health Systems Management

Apricot

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

White

Information Assurance

Golden Yellow

Intelligence Analysis

Golden Yellow

Liberal Studies

White

Mechanical Engineering

Orange

Nurse Anesthesiology

Golden Yellow

Nursing Education

Apricot

Physician Assistant

Golden Yellow

Product Development

Golden Yellow

Religious Studies

White

School Counseling

Light Blue

School Psychology

White

Security Administration

Golden Yellow

Software Engineering

Golden Yellow

Software Management

Golden Yellow

Special Education - Emotionally Impair/Beh Dis

Light Blue

Special Education - Learning Disabled

Light Blue

Teaching of Mathematics

Light Blue

Specialist Degree Majors

Tassel and Hood Color

School Psychology

White

Doctoral Degree Majors

Tassel and Hood Color

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Orange

Clinical Psychology

Dark Blue

Electrical Engineering

Orange

Mechanical Engineering

Orange

Nursing Practice

Apricot

﻿Q: Where may I get information on the Academic Procession, Order of Exercises, Academic Regalia and the Degree Recipients?

A: This information appears in the Commencement Program available at the Ceremony.

﻿Q: How is the right name called when the graduates are presented their degree?

A: At the Candidate Assembly, each candidate receives an identification card that contains his/her name, seat number and honors, if applicable. This card is presented to the Announcer when the graduate receives his/her degree. Because in the past some candidates have exercised their creative writing talents, the Announcer will read only the college/school printing and handwritten phonetic name pronunciation.

﻿Q: Why are the names read at such a rapid rate?

A: UDM personalizes its Commencement by having each participating graduate’s name read. In order not to extend the Ceremony, the graduates’ names are read rapidly. One additional second per name would lengthen the event by 15 minutes.

﻿Q: Why didn’t my graduate:

﻿- Have their name in the Commencement Program?

Program copy is sent to the printer several weeks before the ceremony. A graduate’s name may not appear in the program if the Graduation Application was filed after the deadline.

﻿- Get a diploma?

Reasons for not receiving a degree are:
- degree requirements have not been met, e.g., courses remain to be completed.
- outstanding financial balance.
- the Graduate Application was received after the diploma ordering deadline. Graduates who have any existing concerns should contact their college/school office immediately.

Graduates who have any concerns should contact their college/school office immediately.

﻿- Have his/her honors read?

Honors are awarded to undergraduate students who have completed all their degree requirements as of the end of Term II and all final grades have been recorded.

For students who began their studies prior to Fall 2011 Summa cum laude - 3.75 or above, magna cum laude - 3.50 and above and cum laude - 3.25 or above. Honors are determined using only the last 60 hours of the degree program.

For students who began their studies Fall 2011 and beyond Summa cum laude - 3.90 or above, magna cum laude - 3.75 and above and cum laude - 3.50 or above. All coursework in the cumulative GPA at UDM is used in the honors calculation All students must have completed 60 hours at UDM to qualify for honors. Candidates for Summer 2015 will not have honors read at Commencement because they have not finished their studies. Honors are not awarded at the master/doctoral degree level.

﻿Q: Where do I meet my graduate after Commencement?

A: After the Commencement Ceremony is complete, the graduates will recess out of Calihan Hall and march to the Sacred Heart Square. Do not wait in the hallways of Calihan Hall. Graduates eligible to receive their diplomas will then proceed to their colleges/schools and pick up their diploma, if eligible. Since campus will be very crowded, to locate your graduate you may wish to pre-determine a meeting location or use your cell phone after Commencement is over.

﻿Q: What social media hashtag should I use?

A: UDM is promoting the use of a social media hashtag so that people can find shared comments and photos online through services such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For details, see the Commencement social media page.

﻿Q: How do I exit the Campus?

A: All vehicles exiting the:
- McNichols (Six Mile Road) Gate are required to make a right (east) turn.
- Livernois Gate can only make a right (north) turn. A short distance up the avenue there is a turn-around.

﻿Q: Where can I get more information about Commencement?

A: Check with your graduate, visit the Commencement website (www.udmercy.edu/commencement) or call the Office of the Registrar at 313-993-3313.